Teen Rape Suspects Play in School’s Football Game
Four high school football players charged with gang-raping a 14-year-old cheerleader played in a school football game Friday night after a judge ordered them returned to class.
LaJuan Ewing, 17; Jeffery Jackson, 17; Lamar Toney, 17; and a 16-year-old juvenile had been barred from attending regular classes at River Rouge High School after they were arrested Oct. 9.
All four have pleaded not guilty to four counts each of first degree criminal sexual assault, a felony that carries a sentence of up to life in prison. On Friday, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Stephens ordered the school to readmit the students pending a court hearing set for Nov. 10.
In her ruling, Stephens said the school did not give the players’ families a proper hearing before taking the students out of regular classes. She also said keeping them out of school would cause them irreparable harm and deprive them of educational opportunities.
River Rouge lost the game Friday night, 35-12.
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